He declared the party would stand by its policies introduced during its time in government.

He said they were successful then and some had been adopted by the military-backed Surayud Chulanont government under different names.

"I have long studied the sufficiency philosophy and I can tell you that most of my party's policies do not go against it," Chaturon told a news conference held at the Thai Rak Thai headquarters.

He said policies like village funds, One Tambon, One Product and the people's bank encouraged hard work, honesty, moderation and self-development.

Chaturon said about 20 of the Thai Rak Thai's populist ideas had proved successful.

Although populism has received "bad press" here and overseas, it was more beneficial than detrimental in practice.

"What we did, we did for the benefit of the people, and people can see how our policies have benefited the country," he said.

He denied the party used populism to win the government benches. "It is not the truth. Although we handed people money, the people must develop themselves from that government support".

He added the Thai Rak Thai was the first party to look after grassroots Thailand and until his party, it never had the capital to develop.

"The party's executive committee has concluded we should continue with the policies introduced by the Thai Rak Thai government.

"And, we want to tell our supporters that we are ready to be back in politics even if the party faces dissolution. However, that depends on the Election Tribunal," Chaturon said.

He promised the party would run on policies that would benefit the people if it were allowed to contest the next election.

Chaturon said party policies that were good for the country had been proven so by academic studies.

A party banner declared it would continue with its former beneficial policies as well as create new ideas.

Chaturon said the party had the right to discuss its policies and it was up to the voter to decide if they were right for the country.

He welcomed criticism of the party's manifesto but refused to accept being gagged by a dictatorship.

"Only the people's voice and votes can judge our party," he said.

Nevertheless, he did say the full extent of the party's election strategy would not be revealed until the junta lifted its ban on political activity.

 Chaturon said some saw universal healthcare, small and medium enterprise assistance, mass transit projects and the two- and three-digit lottery as populist.

Nevertheless, the former deputy prime minister had no policy to bring peace to the deep South.

He defended the way the Thai Rak Thai government handled the crisis and said the Surayud government was going about it the same way. He asserted the Thai Rak Thai said reconciliation was the only way to resolve the insurgency.

Of corruption, he said in spite of being appointed by the junta-backed government, no committee or body had charged anyone from his government with an offence.

"Corruption occurs in every government. It is up to the courts to decide if the TRT is linked to corruption," he said.

Chaturon is visiting the North this week but refused to reveal his schedule because he did not want to "politicise" the trip. It was not a "challenge" to the junta but a "duty of a politician to meet the people".

"Council for National Security chairman Sonthi Boonyaratglin knows I am not defying the junta and he knows I won't make trouble. I have thanked him for his optimism," he said.

Chaturon recently visited electorates in the Northeast. The junta took no action.

Sucheera Pinijprakarn

The Nation